Seven Elements Of Effective Prisoner Reentry Programs

By Deborah Clark


The experience of being imprisoned can change an individual, which then means that their re-integration into the society, later on, will be hard. A prisoner gets a difficult period trying to assimilate into the society after they have been released, especially due to the hardships faced in prison. Re-integration programs can assist such individuals but only if they are effective. Below are the indicators of top-notch prisoner reentry programs.

The initiation ought to start early. It is important to prioritize on this characteristic when evaluating such programs. In many instances, the ones that succeed are the kinds which identify and start working with offenders even before their freedom is granted. It is largely due to the fact that one can easily be assisted to adjust to life when they have not been released and the effects will manifest once freedom is granted.

The treatment of the offenders as clients. Those schedules that have a higher success rate are the kinds which focus on assisting each individual offender. The generalization of the ex-prisoners is never impactful to every individual since the deep-rooted issues are never handled. One ought to look for the programs that handle the offenders individually in such a manner that the specific concerns are managed. Such are diverse amongst a group of offenders.

The schedules need to have various reassessment frameworks. It is very essential for a reentry program to have its keen focus being the provision of the best frameworks. Key to this is constant reassessment which entails having to ensure that the offenders are assisted to better shape their lives. Since recidivism can have negative effects it is very important for the program to ensure that it does not have any. Only constant reassessment can ensure this.

The program should place a huge priority in seeking evidence. It is vital to ensure this aspect since it indicates that a program values the impact it has. This in the main entails having to focus on getting the evidence that their methods have a positive impact on those they deal with. Assumptions are as such avoided and the methods used will be those that have been proven to have a high success rate.

Positive support offered without a focus on punishments. Recidivism is encouraged by programs that focus on punishments. The harsh and punitive approach leads to the offenders being encouraged onto the negative path. This is opposite of what the major goal of the rehabilitation program is, and therefore one should look for those that prioritize on positive motivation. It helps the ex-offenders want to change permanently.

Partnerships ought to be available since they provide a strong framework. This critical aspect is also essential for one to verify and as such one should check it with keenness. Mainly, it entails having to verify that a program is linked with numerous other beneficial organizations. Issues are easily handled in such a manner that may be too difficult for one organization to handle.

The benefits are best when they are long-term. A keen focus on long term goals is always essential as offenders need to be assisted to live a better life. They should be encouraged to make decisions that are more impactful over a long period.




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